The Portland daily press., 1887-01-27
z ~ y
N. Y. Tribune.
TOO LATE.
PHILADELPHIA Press,
A HISTORIC SWORD.
Welded by Capt. Reed at the "Ther-
mopyfse" of the ocean.

There has lain upon the desk Of the Presi-
dent for some time plain, steel-scabbarded
sword, old fashioned in style and servicea-
BILE rather than elegant, slightly curved,
somewhat battered, and generally a weapon
that looks as though 1t had seen service. And
it has and service, too, in one of the most
heroic actions described in the pages Of
American history. A day or two ago the
President sent this sword to Congress, and
1t will probably become the duty of the Ma
tional Museum, in which so many other val
liable relics are deposited, to give it place
in which 1t may be seen in company with 2
sketch of the hero and the heroic conte
that made it sacred
The presentation to Congress, through the
President, by Col. Samuel C. Reid, Of this
battle sabre of his father, the late Capt. SAM
uel Chester Reid, who commanded the Unit
ed States private armed brig-of-war General
Armstrong, at the battle of Fayal, in Sep
TENDER, 1914, is excuse enough for reviving
some incidents which have passed out Of
mind. The Armstrong was a little brig Of
but 240 tons, carrying but seven guns and 80
men. She was attacked in the neutral wa
tiers Of the Azore Islands by British SQUAD
ron, consisting of the ship of the line Plan
bdSdlltt, luc lIledbc IOtd, anu buc SlOOp-0I-
war CarnatiOn, with a total amount OF 1876
guns, and 1000 men. The British lost over
300 OF their picked men and officers in killed
and wounded, while the Armstrong lost but
two killed and seven wounded. The action
has well been called the ''Thermopyl@ of the
Ocean" for no naval battle in ancient or
modern history is comparable with that of
the Armstrong at Fayal, either as to the UNI
equal forces engaged, the unyielding and i'm
flexible bravery of her officers and crew, nor
as to the grand results which followed in the
defeat of the British expedition against
Louisiana.
| The height of heroism and romantic chiy-
| airy were displayed by Capt. Reid and his
crew in the last act of this extraordinary ma
val drama. After scuttling his vessel to save
men and arms, when the commander of the
squadron, Admiral Lloyd, demanded their
| surrender and threatened to send 800 men to
take them. Reid retired with his men to an
old Gothic convent. which he fortified,
knocked away the drawbridge, ran up the
American flag, and babe the enemy defiance.
Lloyd qualled under this last exhibition of
heroic courage, saying they were demons
and not men.
The squadron under Lloyd was on its way
| to the island of Jamaica to join the great
fleet assembling there under Admiral Lord
Cochrane. afterward Earl of Dundonald, who
was cQnhdentially intrusted with the secret
expedition for the conquest of Louisiana
The last hope Of England to wrest the con
troll OF the Mississippi river and the Province
Of Louisiana from France had been foiled by
Napoleon, who, seeing that he had no means
of protecting it from the conquest of England
ceded 1t to the United States in 1903. On the
declaration of war by the United States, in
1872, England's eyes were once more turned
to the coveted possession, and, after making
demonstration against Washington and
Baltimore, she assembled her combined
fleets, no longer needed for the blockade Of
the French coasts at Negril Bay; Jamaica, to
condition Of Lloyd's squadron had
created a delay of over ten DAYS
IN repairing damages, as they were
occupied three days alone in burying
their dead. On the arrival Of. Lloyd at ia
malca further delay of week took place,
Admiral Lord Cochrane being furious at
Lloyd's disaster, which finally proved fatal
to the. expedition. The fleet did not arrive
OIL Lake Bosque until four days after the ar
rival OF Gen; jackson with his forces, which
pareiy gave him time to make defense, so
tnat had the fleet arrived 10 days sooner,
when New Orleans and the coast was utter
~ de1enseless, an easy conquest would have
peen made, and once in possession it is
doubtful II the treaty of peace would have
been ratified by England. Thus it is clearly
demonstrated that If Capt. Reid had surren-
dered his vessels against such an oyerwbelr,
ing force, which he might have done with
out the imputation of cowardice, Louisiana
n to-uaS DS uhutI tne nag OF ot. George.
To Capt. Reid is not only due the credit Of
this victory, but its general results in saving
a domain now more than three times larger
than the territory of France, and it is worthy
to be remembered that this gallant sailor be-
came afterward the designer of the present
form of the United States flag, as adopted by
Congress in 1918. His name and fame de-
serve 10 be cOmmemorated and Congress-
should show the gratitude of the people by
making an appropriation for substantial
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usefulness. ''"u